Shows, music and literature in Piazza dei Contrari in the shadow of the Fortress
Etra Festival stems from the desire to make Vignola a summer cultural meeting place through music, theatre and literature. Piazza dei Contrari comes alive with concerts, shows, ballets and book presentations, just like an 'open-air living room' at the foot of the Fortress.
The event is a fixture of Vignola's summer, open to citizens and visitors alike, welcomed into a Piazza dei Contrari at its best. An aesthetically pleasing space that needs no 'make-up', but is simply 'dressed' with a Stage and the appropriate Arts to fill it.
PROGRAMME 2024
ETRA Festival, the event celebrating the arts in Piazza dei Contrari in Vignola, returns from 10 to 30 August, in its 11th edition. A month of free events dedicated to singing, music, poetry and the performing arts.
It begins on Saturday 10 August at 9 p.m. with a concert by Karima who, with only piano accompaniment, will tell her story through music, evoking memories, emotions and passions. A journey through the songs that have most marked her life and music, including ‘Lullaby of Birdland’ and ‘Greatest Love of All’. Accompanying the Italo-Algerian singer will be musician Piero Frassi at the piano, with his evocative arrangements.
On Friday 16 August, ‘Fantasia, Disney soundtracks’ is on the programme: at 9 p.m. the splendid voice and captivating stage presence of soprano Sang Eun Kim will merge with the harmonies of pianist Luigi Giachino, a recognised expert in film soundtracks. The show is a tribute to Disney productions with a rich selection of pieces that contain poetry and dreams, but also play and fun, demonstrating the unmistakable versatility and technique of the artists.
‘Speriamo che sia femmina’ (We hope it's a girl), the preview of the Poesia Festival, is instead scheduled for Saturday 24 August at 9 pm, with Maria Luisa Vezzali, Azzurra D'Agostino, Rosanna Frattaruolo, Carla Ghisani, Diletta D'Angelo and Isabella Panfido. Conducted by Elena Grazioli, it’s an evening of words and music by Barbara Martinetto (flute), Milena Punzi Anfossi (cello) and Clara Dutto (piano). Info and complete programme on the Poesia Festival website www.poesiafestival.it.
Etra Festival concludes on Friday 30 August with the show 'Luce, compagnia dei Folli' (Light, Company of Fools), which starts at 9 p.m. in Piazza dei Contrari. A sound event by the Compagnia dei Folli, a sort of transcendent Big Bang, which traces a journey through light, fire, light effects and projections on butterflies and transparent spheres of creatures from the abyss, light acrobats on trapezes and fluttering, scenic fabrics.
The ETRA Festival - under the artistic direction of Andrea Candeli - is organised with the support of Fondazione di Vignola and Fondazione di Modena, in collaboration with Laboratorio Culturale APS, Poesia Festival, Artinscena and under the patronage of the Municipality of Vignola.
All appointments start at 9 p.m. and admission is free, subject to availability
